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Chatham man faces drunken driving charges after crash

CHATHAM — A village resident faces drunken driving charges along with two other misdemeanors for an alleged hit-and-run accident last week, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were summoned about 6 p.m. Friday to the scene of a two-car crash near Coleman Avenue in the Village of Chatham. They were told that one of the vehicles' driver had sped away.

An investigation into the wreck revealed that a Volkswagon Jetta traveling east on Church Street had stopped to allow a Subaru Legacy to enter the road from the parking lot when the Jetta was rear-ended.

Not long after the crash, deputies identified the driver of the Legacy as Ian Tucksmith, 21. He was taken into custody and a Breathalyzer test determined that his blood alcohol content was 0.18 percent, more than double the legal allowable limit of 0.08 percent.

He is charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated driving while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, all misdemeanors. Tucksmith was released pending a July 15 court appearance in Chatham Village Court.